Wildlife
Department staff presented information about an important wetland area in north
central Oklahoma at the May meeting of the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation
Commission.

The Drummond Flats
area is located 15 miles south of Enid and just west of Drummond in Garfield
County. Three creeks converge on the low-lying area forming a large, natural
wetland.

Historically, the
area has been an important migration stop for shorebirds and waterfowl. Today,
the area is primarily used to grow crops or as pasture for cattle. The Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation is currently looking into opportunities to
restore this unique wetland habitat and create more opportunities for sportsmen
and other wildlife enthusiasts.

Commissioners
voted to endorse the concept of buying at appraised value – from willing sellers
– about 3,000 acres in the wetland basin, plus up to 2,000 acres in the
surrounding uplands.

“We’ve done some
initial surveys of local landowners, but now we’re ready to see if some type of
comprehensive purchase can become a reality,” said Alan Peoples, wildlife chief
for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Also at the May
meeting, the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a resolution to
designate June 3-4 as Free Fishing Days in Oklahoma. Oklahoma was the first
state in the nation to offer free fishing days 24 years ago and has since been
followed by dozens of other states that have established similar free fishing
days.

"Free fishing days
are a great opportunity to introduce family and friends to fishing," said David
Warren, information and education chief for the Wildlife Department.

Resident and
non-resident fishing licenses (including trout licenses and fishing and hunting
legacy permits) are not required on the free fishing days, although anglers
should note that local or municipal permits might be required on those days.
Texoma Lake anglers should be aware that the Texas free fishing day is June 3
only. Anglers must also follow all other fishing regulations.

In other business,
the Commission recognized Mackie Fairfield, clerk for the Wildlife Department’s
Information and Education Division for 25 years of service.

The Wildlife
Conservation Commission is the eight-member governing board of the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Wildlife Commission establishes state
hunting and fishing regulations, sets policy for the Wildlife Department, and
indirectly oversees all state fish and wildlife conservation activities.
Commission members are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate.

The next scheduled
Commission meeting is June 5 at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
headquarters (auditorium), at the southwest corner of 18th and North Lincoln,
Oklahoma City at 9:00 a.m.

More than 200
youngsters converged at the University of Central Oklahoma Wellness Center for
the second annual Oklahoma Archery in the Schools State Tournament April 27.

Eric White, a 9th
grader from Sapulpa, took home the top shooter trophy, while Coweta High School
captured the team high school trophy. In a very tight match, Cottonwood School
in Coalgate grabbed first place in the middle school division. South Rock Creek
in Shawnee took first place honors in the Kindergarten through 5th
grade team category.

“It was a very
intense competition this year. These kids didn’t just come to participate, they
came to win,” said Lance Meek, Wildlife Department coordinator for the Archery
in the Schools program. “Everyone had a great time including the teachers.
During a couple of the shoot offs at the end of the day I thought I was going to
have to get ear plugs because the kids were cheering so loud.”

According to Meek,
the tournament would not have been possible without a variety of important
partners including the UCO Wellness Center, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Norman
Archery and assistance from a number of Wildlife Department game wardens.

The tournament
showcased the innovative archery education curriculum called the Archery in the
Schools program. Offering a two-week long archery curriculum, the program is
designed to introduce Oklahoma students to Olympic-style archery. The Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation coordinates the ambitious program.

To date, Oklahoma
is one of 36 states that have adopted the Archery in the Schools program. In
2005, about 500,000 students across the nation went through the Archery in the
Schools curriculum. With more than 50 schools and 5,000 students already
involved in Oklahoma, the program is quickly gaining popularity. Wildlife
Department officials expect participation to double by the end of the year.

To participate in
the Archery in the Schools program, teachers must simply attend a free one-day
training session conducted by certified instructors. Once a teacher has
completed the training course, their school is eligible to purchase an equipment
kit at a reduced cost. Some equipment grants also are available through Wildlife
Department. To learn how to bring this exciting program to your school,
contact:

What more could one ask
for in a hunting season? Plentiful game, a long season, thousands of acres of
public access, challenging shooting – squirrel hunting has it all. Running May
15 through Jan. 31, squirrel season is one of the longest running, and most
underused, hunting seasons available in Oklahoma.

Public hunting
opportunities abound in Oklahoma for squirrel hunters and both the gray and fox
squirrel are abundant on many of the Department's wildlife management areas.
Excellent squirrel hunting can be found on Keystone, Spavinaw Hills, Deep Fork,
Hickory Creek and many other wildlife management areas. Just about any tract of
oaks, hickory or pecan trees can be a productive area for hunters and you would
be hard-pressed to find a small crowd of squirrel hunters anywhere.

Squirrel hunting
is a perfect opportunity to introduce someone new to hunting. In fact, the more
eyes the better. With their sharp eyesight and hearing, squirrels have a
tendency to disappear in the tree tops.

A generous
10-squirrel limit offers a challenge to those going afield with a .22 caliber
rifle. Other sportsmen prefer carrying a shotgun while going after squirrels.
Another option that is increasing in popularity are pellet rifles, which through
the years have become adequately powerful to deliver squirrels to the bag.

To hunt squirrels in
Oklahoma, you need a resident or non-resident hunting license unless exempt and
a $5 Fishing and Hunting Legacy Permit, unless exempt. Resident hunters younger
than age 16 can hunt squirrels without a license. For a complete list of
squirrel hunting regulations consult the “2006 Oklahoma Hunting Guide” or log on
to the Department's Web site at www.wildlifedepartment.com.

For the first time
ever documented in Oklahoma, fisheries biologists have documented natural
reproduction of rainbow trout. The discovery was made in the Lower Mountain Fork
River trout fishery below Broken Bow Lake.

“Clearly, this new
information sets the Lower Mountain Fork River apart as one of the premier tail
water fisheries in the nation,” said Barry Bolton, assistant chief of fisheries
for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Anglers reported
observing trout spawning activity in December and January. A few months later,
scattered reports began coming in of very small rainbow trout being caught by
anglers.

“All of the trout
that we stock are much bigger than a few inches, so we did a small survey with a
bag seine,” said Paul Balkenbush, southeast region fisheries supervisor for the
Wildlife Department.

In four different
locations, biologists caught a total of 17 young rainbow trout.

“Due to the nature
of the river – lots of boulders and swift current – there was a very limited
number of places we could use our seine effectively. The fact that we were able
to catch young trout in every location was very encouraging and leads us to
believe that they are abundant and widespread. We are not certain of their age
but they were born here,” Balkenbush said. “They may only be two or three-inches
long right now, but we can say without a doubt that these are wild fish.”

The Wildlife
Department first stocked the Lower Mountain Fork River with trout more than 17
years ago. Since that time the 12-mile designated trout stream has seen many
habitat improvements. Additionally, thanks to the efforts of Oklahoma’s
congressional delegation, the U.S. Congress passed the Water Resources
Development Act in 1996 to ensure that cool water from Broken Bow Lake is
released throughout the year to sustain the trout fishery.

“These young trout
are, in part, a reflection of all the hard work done through a number of
cooperative habitat initiatives. We could have never completed these efforts
without generous donations, both in financial support and sweat equity, from
several dedicated trout clubs in Oklahoma and Texas,” Balkenbush said.

Rainbow trout have
very specific habitat requirements in order to spawn successfully and biologists
have completed several projects to make the river more suitable for trout.

For example, the
Spillway Creek area of the river was once mostly a swift and straight area, not
the most suitable for trout or trout anglers. Today, the area is one of the most
dynamic areas of the river. Wildlife Department personnel and their cooperators
used large boulders and logs to improve the river channel creating a series of
riffles, runs and pools - all prime trout habitat. The habitat efforts also
trapped clean gravel in shallow areas of the river providing the type of habitat
needed by spawning rainbow trout.

“This natural
reproduction is certainly exciting, however we don’t know if this is a one-time
phenomenon or if reproduction will occur each year,” Balkenbush said.
“Hopefully, these trout will survive and grow for a couple of years and provide
anglers an opportunity to catch wild fish but at this point we don’t know if
that will happen or not.”

Wildlife
Department fisheries biologists will monitor possible future trout reproduction
and track the survival of these young trout.

In the meantime,
fisheries biologists will continue improving habitat in the area through
projects like the Evening Hole Restoration Project – the most ambitious stream
restoration project undertaken by the Department. Following two years of
research and development, biologists have now begun the huge task of renovating
the area known as the Evening Hole located on the Lower Mountain Fork River.
The project also includes the creation of a “new” trout stream almost a
half-mile long that will connect to the main river channel and provide new
angling opportunities. To learn more about the project log on towww.wildlifedepartment.com

To learn more
about trout fishing log on to wildlifedepartment.com or turn to page 22 of the
“2006 Oklahoma Fishing Guide.”

-30-

Photo Caption: For the first
time in Oklahoma, fisheries biologists have documented natural reproduction of
rainbow trout. In four different locations in the Lower Mountain Fork River
trout fishery, biologists caught a total of 17 young rainbow trout.

The Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation will be looking hard for something it hopes
to never find – avian influenza or bird flu. The Department is teaming up with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture to sample more than 1,500 wild migratory
birds in Oklahoma for the strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
referred to as H5N1 that has grabbed headlines around the world.

“To date, HPAI
H5N1 has not been detected in humans, poultry or wild birds in North America.
In addition, there is no known case where H5N1 has been transmitted from wild
birds to humans. All that being said, we are taking this situation very
seriously and will be cooperating with National and Central Flyway plans for the
early detection of HPAI H5N1 in wild migratory birds if and when the virus
should arrive in North America” said Mike O’Meilia, migratory game bird
biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Migratory aquatic
birds are the natural reservoir for 144 subtypes of avian influenza that are
generally low pathogenic strains that rarely cause signs of illness in birds or
humans. However, the particularly potent strain of H5N1 bird flu emerged in
domestic poultry and wild birds in Asia in 1997. The H5N1 strain is
substantially different from other types of bird flu and has caused mortality in
over 80 species of wild birds and resulted in the deaths of over 100 people.
Most of the people who have been infected with the HPAI H5N1 virus have acquired
it through direct handling of infected poultry, eating uncooked or undercooked
poultry products, or through contact with virus-contaminated surfaces or
materials.

The U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey’s National Wildlife Health Center
has been carefully monitoring migratory birds in the United States, primarily in
Alaska, one of the most likely points for the disease to enter into North
America. To date, thousands of waterfowl and shorebird samples from Alaska have
been analyzed, and no evidence of the H5N1 avian flu has been discovered.

Hunters, anglers
and other outdoor enthusiasts can submit their questions on a wide range of
wildlife law questions through the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation’s Web site at wildlifedepartment.com.

Game wardens are
some of the most recognized employees of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife
Conservation. A game warden’s primary job is to enforce the fish and wildlife
laws of the state. These laws ensure that all sportsmen continue to enjoy
opportunities to hunt and fish for years to come.

In addition to
their law enforcement duties, game wardens perform a wide range of duties in
their service to the sportsmen and sportswomen of the state. Game wardens teach
hunter education courses, submit weekly fishing reports from area lakes, assist
fisheries and wildlife biologists in research projects, and assist landowners
with technical information on fish and wildlife habitat improvement.

Becoming a game
warden is no easy task. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree and must take a
challenging employment exam. After prospective candidates are selected through
interviews and background checks, their training begins at the Wildlife
Department’s headquarters in Oklahoma City. There they undergo five weeks of
intensive training including criminal law, arrest procedures and how to
professionally contact the public. Next, new wardens attend 364 hours of
training through the Council on Law Enforcement and Training (CLEET). After a
rigorous final exam, they are then paired with a field training officer. The
veteran officers work alongside the new wardens for 10 weeks before the wardens
begin their first solo assignments.

The Wildlife
Department employees about 120 game wardens, including at least one in every
county of the state. To find a warden working in your county turn to page 40 of
the “2006 Oklahoma Fishing Guide,” or log on to
www.wildlifedepartment.com.

The mystery fish
is a mystery fish no more. DNA analysis recently confirmed that Dru Kinslow, of
Oklahoma City, caught a state record black bass hybrid last March. Kinslow
caught the 8-pound, 5.6-ounce bass from Veteran’s Lake near Sulphur.

When he took the fish
to fisheries biologists with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation,
they immediately recognized it was bigger than either the current smallmouth or
the black bass hybrid records. However, the brute had characteristics of both a
smallmouth bass and spotted bass.

Fisheries
biologists sent a small fin sample to a DNA lab which has now confirmed that
fish was a cross of a smallmouth bass and spotted bass. Black bass hybrids occur
rarely in nature when the spawning areas of black bass species overlap.

Kinslow was using
a jig and salt craw combo when he hooked the big fish in the clear waters of
67-acre Veteran’s Lake.

“I was just trying
out different lures to see what might be biting when I hooked the fish,” Kinslow
said. “It fought pretty hard and went all the way under the boat. I didn’t
realize how big it was until I got it in the boat.”

The fish measured
22.75-inches long and was 16.5 inches in girth.

The former state
record black bass hybrid was just established this February when Sean McAllister
pulled a 6-pound, 14-ounce fish from Lake Texoma.

For a complete
list of record fish and the procedures regarding certifying state record fish,
consult the “2006 Oklahoma Fishing Guide.” If you think you may have hooked a
record fish it is important that you weigh the fish on an Oklahoma State
Department of Agriculture certified scale and a Wildlife Department employee
verifies the weight.

During a recent
research project, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation fisheries
biologists collected a 24-year-old blue catfish. More surprising than the fish’s
impressive age was its diminutive weight. The catfish weighed only two pounds.

“That fish was not
normal but, in short, we found that it takes a long time for a blue cat to grow
very large. Generally speaking, it takes 13-16 years for a blue catfish to reach
10 pounds. They have a long lifespan compared to most Oklahoma fish, but they
grow slowly,” said Jeff Boxrucker, senior fisheries research biologist for the
Wildlife Department. “We still have a lot to learn about blue catfish, but this
research will help us better understand these great fish.”

Biologists spent
months gathering samples and analyzing data from blue catfish populations on
seven Oklahoma lakes. However, all is not equal in the realm of blue cats. That
24-year-old, two-pound fish was caught in Lake Ellsworth in southwest Oklahoma,
but this spring, biologists aged a 78-pound fish caught by an angler from Texoma
that was 19 years old.

Boxrucker and his
fellow biologists will continue to study these unique fish in order to give
fisheries managers the knowledge they need to make informed management
decisions. In the meantime Boxrucker has one suggestion for anglers.

“Keep all the
small blue cats that you can eat and the law allows. But consider releasing the
really big fish. These trophy blues are a great resource for all anglers and
because of their age they can be hard to replace,” Boxrucker said.

For more
information about blue catfish research in Oklahoma log on to
wildlifedepartment.com and go to “Fishing,” then click on “Fisheries Research
Projects.”

In case you needed an
excuse to take your family fishing, here is a good one – the first weekend in
June (June 3-4) is Free Fishing Days in Oklahoma.

"Free fishing days
are a great opportunity to introduce family and friends to fishing," said David
Warren, information and education chief for the Wildlife Department.

Oklahoma was the
first state in the nation to offer free fishing days 24 years ago and has since
been followed by dozens of other states that have established similar free
fishing days.

Resident and non-resident fishing licenses
(including trout licenses and fishing and hunting legacy permits) are not
required on the free fishing days, although anglers should note that local or
municipal permits might be required on those days.

Texoma Lake anglers should be aware that the
Texas free fishing day is Saturday, June 3 only. Unless exempt due to age,
anglers fishing on the Texas portion of Lake Texoma on Sunday, June 4 must
either possess the special Lake Texoma license or a fishing license issued by
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Anglers must also follow all other
fishing regulations.

Over the years
there have been hundreds of bass tournaments at Grand Lake in northeast
Oklahoma, but there has never been one quite like this.

The CITGO
Bassmaster Elite 100 Series “Sooner Run” tournament, taking place on June 1
through 4, will be one of the biggest events in the history of Grand Lake. The
tournament will feature 106 of the world's top professional BASS fisherman
competing for almost $700,000 in prize money, including a $100,000 grand prize.

The Elite Series
is comprised of the world's top professional bass fishing pros competing in 11
events between March and September for a total of $7.4 million.

In his second year
in the Bassmaster Elite Series, Terry Butcher of Talala, Oklahoma, said fishing
at this level of competition is a “dream come true.”

“This is what just
about every bass fisherman wants – to be able to go fishing for a living,”
Butcher said.

And Butcher said
he is glad to be fishing close to home.

“Its nice to not
have to drive a thousand miles to a tournament,” he said. “And being on a lake I
am familiar with may help a little, although the guys fishing this tournament
are really good. It doesn’t take them long to find the fish no matter what lake
they are on.”

With water levels
up, the fishing should be good on Grand Lake said Gene Gilliland, senior
fisheries biologist for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

“There may be a
very few bass on the tail end of the spawn, but most anglers will likely be
looking for bass in a post-spawn pattern,” Gilliland said. “I expect the fishing
to be very competitive and it could take as much as 20 pounds a day to win the
tournament.”

The fact that a
Bassmaster Elite Series tournament is taking place on Grand Lake is not just a
coincidence.

“In this series
they are trying to put the best anglers on the best lakes at the best times of
the year. The selection of Grand Lake is a great testament to the bass fishery
and to Oklahoma’s reputation as a bass fishing destination,” Gilliland said.

Anglers are
fishing for more than just the prize money, Elite pros are competing in a points
race for the CITGO Bassmaster Classic, the Super Bowl of bass fishing. Halfway
through the season, Butcher is in the running for one of the 36 coveted spots in
the Classic. He is currently 39th in the points race and a solid
showing at Grand could move him up the points ladder.

Oklahoma will be
well represented at the Elite tournament. In addition to Butcher, nine other
Bassmaster pro anglers call Oklahoma home including Jimmy Houston of Cookson,
Edwin Evers of Talala, Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Kenyon Hill of Norman, Dave Smith
of Del City, Bradley Hallman of Norman, Ken Cook of Lawton, Jeff Reynolds of
Idabel and Tommy Biffle of Wagoner.

About
8,000 people are expected to attend the family-friendly event. Both the daily
launches and weigh-ins are free and open to the public at North Beach
Development Area (61201 East 270 Road). Each day the launch begins at 6 a.m. and
weigh-ins take place at 3 p.m. Spectators will also have a chance to get angler
autographs, participate in a kids casting contest and shop for Bassmaster
merchandise. The newly-designed North Beach Development Area is located east of
Wolf Creek just north of Grove.

Additionally, fans
can catch all the action on ESPN2 the following weekend, Saturday, June 10 at 9
a.m.

With an estimated
1,200 tournaments held each year in the state, Oklahoma offers virtually
unlimited fishing opportunities. To learn more about bass fishing in Oklahoma
log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

The Oklahoma
Aquarium in Jenks is offering two-fold family fun this summer. First, families
can stroll through the 200 exhibits and see exotic fish from around the world.
Next, families can try their hand at catching a fish at one of the free fishing
clinics coordinated by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The Aquarium,
located along the bank of the Arkansas River in Jenks, features many educational
displays, highlighted by a 400,000-gallon shark tank. The facility also
showcases many of Oklahoma's native fish species, including the current state
record blue catfish.

Anglers will want
to be sure to visit the Karl and Beverly White National Fishing Tackle Museum
located at the Aquarium. The Museum houses an historic collection of over 20,000
antique lures and tackle pieces. The $4 million collection is the most complete
and comprehensive collection of vintage fishing tackle in existence.

On most Tuesday
and Thursday nights throughout the summer, free fishing clinics are offered at
the Aquarium. The kid-friendly clinics consist of several educational stations
such as fish identification, proper casting technique, outdoor ethics and knot
tying. After completing the education portion, participants test their newly
acquired knowledge at the Casting Pond located right out the back doors of the
Aquarium.

“The family
fishing clinics are always a lot of fun. We love to introduce kids and adults
both to fishing,” said Colin Berg, education supervisor for the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation. “During business hours visitors can stop in
and pick up a Fishing Guide, buy a fishing license or find out about other
Department services.”

For more information about the
Oklahoma Aquarium call (918) 296-FISH (3474), or go to their Web site at
okaquarium.org.

The Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation’s Tulsa-area offices are located at the Aquarium complex.
To learn more about the free fishing clinics call the Wildlife Department’s
office (918) 299-2334 or log on to wildlifedepartment.com.

Good intentions do
not always produce good results. Such is often the case when it comes to young
wildlife. The best thing to do is to stand back, stay out of the way and let
nature take care of itself.

Birds and
squirrels can be blown out of their nest in storms, and although they appear
alone and helpless, the parents will often find these youngsters and care for
them wherever they might be. People sometimes even find whitetail deer fawns.

"It is not
uncommon for a doe to leave a fawn alone while she is feeding a short distance
away. The safest thing for a fawn is to remain hidden. When people interfere it
can cause complications. Disturbing a young deer, no matter how good your
intentions, can actually compromise the fawn's ability to survive in the wild,"
said Mike Shaw, wildlife research supervisor for the Oklahoma Department of
Wildlife Conservation.

In Oklahoma, most
fawns are born in May and June, and start becoming visible in mid to late June.

Not only is it
illegal to pick up wildlife, but you’re actually hurting its’ chances of
survival. Log onto
www.wildlifedepartment.com for more information about the Oklahoma
Department of Wildlife Conservation.